When the cupboard is bare, where do you go?

The Crossroads concert is Oct. 27

By For the Trail-Gazette

Posted:
10/23/2018 06:57:22 AM MDT

Crossroads depends on donations of non-perishable food items and money to keep it's shelves stocked. Assisting in that effort is the Crossroads Concert -- a free concert by some of the best singers and musicians in the Estes Valley. It will be held Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. in Estes Park -- right across the street from the school administration building. Nancy Bell will perform during the concert. (Courtesy photo)

"Mommy, I'm hungry." It was the plaintive cry of a toddler; old enough to know when her belly is empty, but not old enough to go to school where meals are provided for those who can't afford them.

But in this household, it's bread and water for breakfast and only a bag of chips for lunch.

Dinner time comes and there's still little, if any, food in the house.

What does this mother to do?

In Estes Park, she can turn to Crossroads Ministry for assistance. It's the food bank for the Estes Valley where families can come for a temporary supply of food, and, if needed, a partial payment on the monthly rent and utility bills.

All of the performers are volunteering their time and talents to make this concert possible. They're giving back to the community and they pray the community will come, donate some dollars to Crossroads Ministry, and thereby help a lot of people in the community who really need assistance. (Courtesy photo)

"We do offer meals on a sliding scale depending on each person's situation," explains Brian Schaffer, the Executive Director of Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park. "Some people can pay the full amount. Others can only pay a partial amount, but we want to continue to deliver meals to those people."

Crossroads depends on donations of non-perishable food items and money to keep it's shelves stocked. Assisting in that effort is the Crossroads Concert -- a free concert by some of the best singers and musicians in the Estes Valley. It will be held Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies, 1700 Brodie Ave. in Estes Park -- right across the street from the school administration building.

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"This is a wonderful, meaningful event," says Melissa Westover, one of the singers on the program. "It's wonderful in that audiences have the opportunity to experience some great music provided by local artists. It's meaningful in that it helps further the mission of Crossroads Ministry, which provides so many needed services to our community. It's a win, win for everyone!"

Show producer Bob Gunn hopes to raise more than $3,500 at the event through voluntary donations. (Courtesy photo)

Among the winners are about 40 families in the Estes Valley who benefit from the Meals on Wheels program which Crossroads provides. Schaffer says, "Seventy percent of those we're delivering meals to are 80 years of age or older and 15 of our clients are in their 90's. So it's more than just a meal. It's a daily check-in to see how they're doing."

Show producer Bob Gunn hopes to raise more than $3,500 at the event through voluntary donations. "The concert is absolutely free," says Gunn. "You pay no admission at all. We just ask attendees to consider why the concert is being held, who it helps, and then drop some dollars or checks in jars before and after the concert and during the intermission. $3,500 is what we raised last year and we hope to top that figure this year."

The program opens with Larry Pierce singing "Meditation I" from "Shenandoah." His accompanist is Michelle Gergen-Weisner. With Margie Patterson on piano, Melissa Westover sings "Eternal Life." Nancy Bell and Bob Gunn then perform "The Prayer." Christy Florence sings "The Girl in 14G." The singing group "The Uncommon Connection" checks in with two songs: "Homeward Bound" and "Riversong: A Celtic Celebration." Verlene Thorp on piano and Robert Howard on flute provide accompaniment. Valerie Dascoli performs "Selections from a Song Cycle" by Leonard Bernstein. Nancy Bell sings "Miene Lippen" from the operatic comedy "Giuditta." The Estes Valley Chamber Singers then perform "Make Someone Happy." Melissa Westover, Valerie Dascoli, and Nancy Bell join the Chamber Singers for two songs: "Be Still My Soul" and "You Raise Me Up."

After an intermission, Kathy Osborne (on flute) and Dan Osborne (on piano) perform "Abide With Me." Nancy Bell and Bob Gunn return to sing "How Could I Ever Know" from the musical "The Secret Garden." Robert Howard and Verlene Thorp do a flute, vocal, and piano rendition of "Count Your Blessings." Scott Anderson, Valerie Dascoli, and Melissa Westover then sing "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen. Denise Stookesberry, with Margie Patterson on piano, performs "Back to Before" from the musical "Ragtime." Bob Gunn, accompanied by Gary Hall on guitar, sings "Remember Me, Recuerdame" by Phil Coulter. Nancy Bell sings "Memory" from the Broadway smash hit "Cats." Robert Howard and wife, Robin, offer up two songs by Samuel Barber: "Sure on This Shining Night" and "Skye Boat Song." Scott Anderson and Bob Gunn then team up for "Lily's Eyes" from "The Secret Garden." The Estes Valley Chamber Singers close the show with the song "The Parting Glass."

All of the performers are volunteering their time and talents to make this concert possible. They're giving back to the community and they pray the community will come, donate some dollars to Crossroads Ministry, and thereby help a lot of people in the community who really need assistance.

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